Device for supporting weak feet and treating fallen arches of feet



B. A. LEWIS. DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING WEAK FEET AND TREATING FALLEN ARCHES OF FEET.

APPLICATION. FILED DEC. 9,1919.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

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ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT V BENJAMIN A. LEWIS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING WEAK FEET AND TREATING FALLEN ARCI-IESOF FEET.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11, 1921,

App1ication filed December 9, 1919. Serial No. 343,509.

To all to 7mm it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN a citizen of the United States, residin in the city and county of Philadelphia, tate of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Device for Supporting Weak Feetand Treating Fallen Arches of Feet,of which the following is a specification.

1 My invention consists of a pad and bandage therefor for the purpose stated, said pad being adapted to conform to the underside of the arch of a human foot, so as to support or sustain the arch when in weak condition, and avbandage which is adapted to retain said pad in position and compress the arch so as to assist in supportingthe same and prevent the arch from falling and spreading and treating an arch when fallen or spread to restore or cure it.

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing but the important instrumentalities thereof may be varied, andso it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown and described, as long as they are within the spirit or scope of the claims.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a horizontal, longitudinal section thereof on line 2-2 Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 represents a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 4: represents a transverse, vertical section thereof.

Fig. 5 represents a plan view of a portion of the device in opened out condition.

Figs. 6 and 7 represent a perspective view of detached parts showing certain parts thereof respectively in difi'erent positions.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates a pad which is adapted to be placed upon the underside of the arch of a foot, it being formed of leather or other suitable material and perforated for the purpose of ventilation, said pad being curved and otherwise shaped so as to conform to the underside of a foot.

Connected with one side of said pad is the band 2 and connected with the other side of said pad is the band 3 the latter being adapted to pass upwardly from the pad around the arch of the foot and the band 2 to be passed upwardly from the pad around said arch over the contiguous por- A. Lnwis,

tions of the band 3, said bands thus forming bandage for retaining the device on the oot.

On; the side of'the lower portion of the band 2 is-the longitudinally extending strap 4 whose ends are secured by stitches 5 or other means to the adjacent portion of said band leaving the main length of said strap free from the adjacent portion of the band thus forming with band a keeper 4* whlch is open throughout from top to bottom-and closed on its opposite sidesby said stitches forming in a measure a loop shaped member.

The free end of the band 3 is extended forming the tongue 6 which is adapted to be passed through said keeper and so retained thereinas tobe' prevented from slipping outwardly, forwardly or rearwardly, it bewhereby owing to a stocking the latter is prevented from moving from its place of adjustment, so the pad and the bandage retain their operative positions upon and around the arch and compressing the latter preventing a falling arch of the foot or serving by thepressureof the wrapped band and pad to raise a fallen arch and cure the same, said pressure being adapted to be increased or decreased by the proper drawing of the tongue 6 more or less through the keeper formed by the strap and band 2.

In order to hold the pad and bandage on the foot in their adjusted position on an arch and prevent them from shifting or slipping forwardly on the foot, I employ the heel piece 7 which consists of a strap which extends rearwardly from the band 2 as the rear terminal of thestrap 4 and is continuous of or otherwise secured to the latter and said band, it being of such length that it may be passed around the upper portion of the heel of the wearer and has on its free end the hooks 8 which are adapted to be fitted in the eyelets 9 in the lower As the rear of the piece rests on the incurve of the back of the heel, the piece is pre-' vented from dropping and so disengaging from the heel, and thus the pad, bandage and heel retain their positions on the foot.

1. In a device of the character stated, a

pad, a bandage connected therewith, said pad being adapted to rest against the underside of an arch of a foot, and said bandage being adapted to be passed around said arch and a keeper on the side of said bandage, a

terminal of said bandage forming a tongue 7 which is adapted to be passed through said keeper and to be retained therein, said keeper being open throughout from top to bottom and having its ends closed on said bandage. I

2. In a device of the character stated, a pad, a bandage connected therewith, said pad being adapted to rest against the underside of an arch of a foot, and said bandage being adapted to be passed around said arch and a keeper on the side of said bandage, a terminal of said bandage forming a tongue which is adapted to be passed through said keeper and to be retained therein, said keeper being open throughout from top to bottom and having its ends closed on said bandage, said pad having therein ventilating openings.

3. In a device of the character stated, a pad, a bandage connected therewith, said pad being adapted to rest against the underside of an-archiof'a foot and said bandage being adapted to be passed around said arch, a heel piece connected at one end with a side of said bandage, a hook-like member on the opposite end of said piece and an eyelet on the side of the band opposite to the first named side of the bandage, said member being adapted to be removably connected with said eyelet.

4:. In a device of the character stated, a pad, a bandage, a terminal of the latter comprising a tongue, a keeper on the side of said bandage, said tongue being adapted to be movable through said keeper and to be retained therein.

BENJAMIN A. LEWIS.

'VVitnessesL JOHN A. VVIEDERSHEIM, N. BUSSINGER. 

